Horse hay-fork.



A. DRUMM. HORSE HAY FORK. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1, 1913.

Patented May 26, 1914 .n 2 Emm wfi N. I .N W N v n QN. Wm N n ru -u W N QM 3 Nm A :H. 5% vg m m r o W M. I mm mm Q w M h m m A 5 COLUMBIA PLANOGP-APH CO. WASHINGTON. DJC.

fiatwise. Fig. 3 is closed about as AMBROSE DRUMM, OF BRILLION, WISCONSIN.

HORSE HAY-FORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed May 1, 1913. Serial No. 764,838.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AMBROSE DRUMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bril lion, in the county of Calumet and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Horse Hay-Fork, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a well known farm implement in which the improvement consists'in such an arrangement of ropes for acting upon the fork tines that when the lifting rope is connected with the fork tines for lifting and carrying the load to the place of deposit, the tines will be compressed upon the hay held by them until the lifting rope is released therefrom, and when the 'lifting rope is disconnected from the fork lifting bar the ropes will act to separate the points of the tines and let the hay drop from them, the improvement being shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,-

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the fork, it being opened ready for use in its insertion into the hay. Fig. 2 is a plan of the fork opened as in Fig. 1, with its lifting rope not pulling upon the fork, its lifting bar lying an end view of the fork it will be with a quantity of hay between the fork tines. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the fork when closed as in Fig. 8, the ends of the tines being broken. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the fork lifting rope latch and its rope tripping mechanism, which figure, with the following ones are upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the latch catch loop. Fig. 7 is a plan of a fragment of the lifting bar with the lifting rope latch in its supporting post, its catch, and a spring for normally holding the latch closed, and a sheave near one end of thebar over which to run the tripping rope for disconnecting the latch. Fig. 8 is a plan of a fragment of one pair of fork tines, a horizontal section of a tubular rod fragment which connects the two pairs of fork tines, and a plan of a sheave pulley carrying loop which is pivotally mounted upon a bolt which is detachably connected with the aforesaid tubular rod fragment. Fig. 9 is a plan of .a staple whose use will be explained. Fig. 10 is a plan of an angular sheet metal piece riveted to each fork tine and bolted to a fork tine spacing strip. Fig. 11 is a fragment of an end of the aforesaid spacing strip, and showing the use of the angular piece, (Fig. 10,) and a drop bracket to which a rope is to be connected for operating the fork. Fig. 12 is an end elevation of a latch guide and support. Fig. 13 is an end elevation of a looped post in which the latch of the tripping mechanism is mounted.

Similar numerals and letters indicate like parts in the several views.

1, indicates a gas pipe rod of a length and diameter adapted for the size of fork to be made and serving as a fork connecting bar; 2, a headed bolt in each end of the pipe with their heads spaced from the ends of the pipe a suitable distance for receiving the two fork tines 3 and 3*, and a sheave pulley carrying loop t, the bolts being detachably held within the pipe ends with some suitable fastening, the cotter pin 5, serving the purpose. A washer 2, may be placed between each loop 4 and the tines. The pivotally mounted loops at, are each provided with two sheave pulleys 6 and 6 which are mounted for revolution in their respective loops. The two pairs of fork tines are spaced apart with strips of wood, 7 Angular pieces 8 are secured to each tine with rivets 9, a drop bracket 10, (see Figs. 1, 8 and 11,) is placed under each piece 8 and two bolts 11, inserted through the angular bent arm of the bracket 10, the holes 12 in the pieces 8, and the spacing strips 7 and secured with nuts 13. These spacing strips 7, serve as a supportfor the operator to mount for pressing the fork tines into the hay in grasping a fork full. A lifting bar 14:, is arranged above the gas pipe rod and upon this bar the lifting rope latch and its releasing mechanism is mounted. This is best shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Fig. 5 shows a staple 15, driven into the end of the bar 14:, for clamping a rope 16, between it and the end of the bar, the rope to extend downward, one end running around a sheave 6, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and to the bracket 10 nearest it, and which depends from the strip 7, and the other running around the sheave 6 and then to the opposite bracket. In this manner,the ropes 16 at each end of the bar 14, connect with the two spacing strips, and the upward pull upon the bar acts to close the fork tines around the hay which may be between them. Each spacing strip respective places, as by passing an end through holes and forming a knot 18 upon said end. Intermediate the ends of these two ropes 17, they are .connected with a ring 19, which may be of irregular curvature if desired, which is to be latch 20, which latch is upon the pin .21 of the embraces the bar 1% midway its ends and is secured thereto by bolt 23. may be connected with the ring 19 by doubling the rope, passing the doubled end through the ring, and inserting the two ends through the loop formed by doubling it, as is shown in Fig. '2.

The ropes before mentioned are intended to include any flexible member whether it be a rope or a chain.

A rope '24, is provided with a hook 25, for engaging the ring and lifting the fork when lifting power is applied to the rope a l. This ring member is shown in Figs. 2, 8 and 4, and a fragment of it in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and is to be engaged with the latch 20, as is shown in Figs. '3 and In Fig. 4, 'the latch is thrown backward and the ring released from it, leaving the fork in condition for "being dumped, the ropes 17 *now acting to open the fork. The latch is held closed by means loop is pivotally mounted upon the bolt 27 in the bar 14. A latch guide and support, consisting of a right angled piece 28, (shown in position in Fig. at and in end elevation in pivotally mounted Fig. 12.) is secured to the upper edge of the bar I l,

for receiving the free end of the latch, it

being held in a position parallel with {the bar 14 within the slot 29, or the piece 28 may be dispensed with and the latch held up by the bottom of the slot 30, as is shownbythe sectioned part of the post 22 in Fig. 5.

A "spring 31, is arranged in the 'rear of the loop 26, for normally holding the loop in its vertical position, excepting when it is pulled backward by its trip rope. The spring is held in position by a bolt passing through the plate 31, which is placed across the free ends of the spring wires. A coiled or flat -spr-i-ng anay be substituted for the spring here shown if desired.

A pin 32 may be driven into the bar 14:, against which pin the loop '26 may engage and be held in a vertical position. It is to 'be-observed that by means of a spring 'acting upon the loop 26 ways in its vertical position, excepting when it is pulled backward by its trip rope. Spaced from the loop 26, a post 33, is arranged and secured near the end of the bar 14, in which a sheave '34, is arranged, and a tripping rope 35, run over the sheave and to the loop 26, where it "is secured as is shown in Fig. 5.

The latch and itsloop 26,, being in the position shown in Fig. 2, and in heavy lines in Fig. 5, the manner Of'OPBIQlLiDg the fork engaged with the.

post 22, which post The ropes 17 in raising and carrying the load.

of the loop 26, which pairs of tines :and spacing the pairs of that said loop is 'al-' is as follows: The fork connected together as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and suspended from the lifting rope 2st, is brought over the hay to be raised and the tines opened naturally in doing so about as is shown in Fig. .1, the operator pressing downward upon the strips 7 by standing on them if necessary for inserting the tines. hen properly inserted and the rope lifting latch is engaged with the lifting rope ring, the team is started and a strain imposed upon the lifting rope, which action will force the tines into the hay upon opposite sides of the lifting bar it, and toward each other and continue to compress the hay while being carried to the place of deposit. The

tunes do not require to be closed together until they meet, in order to hold the hay, as the ropes 16, are continuously pulling the opposite pairs of tines toward each other all of the time that the lifting rope is engaged Upon riving at the place of deposit the team is stopped and the trip rope 35 given a pull, which act will release the latch, letting the fork open when the strain upon the lifting rope 24 is transferred from the ropes 16 "to the ropes 17.

The strain upon the rope 2d of the weight of the fork being still retained, the tines will be opened to their full extent as in Fig. '1, while the fork is being returned. for another load, which having been obtained-as before,;the lifting ring 19 is again coupledtothe latch 20 as be-foredescribed, and the operation repeated.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s,

1. In 'a hay lifting and carrying fork, two

ypivotally mounted near each end of the tines upon a suitable bar, a sheave pulley mounted for revolut-i on each 'si deof'the aforesaid bar in a suitable support, a -spacing strip secured to one tine of each pair upon opposite sides of said connecting bar tines apart intermediate their (ends, a lifting an arranged parallel with said connecting bar of substantially equal length therewith, a latch normally closed mounted pivotally upon said lifting bar intermediate the ends of said bar, a lifting rope ring 'detachably connected with said latch, a lifting rope arranged for raising and carrying the fork when power is applied thereto, a rope .extending from near "the end of theinside of each spacing strip around a sheave between the spacing :strip and connecting bar and connecting with an end of said lifting bar,

and being adapted to close the tines toward each other when a strain is applied to said lifting "rope'and to hold the hay compressed between the tines during the lifting and carrying of said fork.

2. In a hay lifting and carrying fork, two

pairs of fork tines pivotally mounted near one end of the tines upon a suitable connectingbar, one pair near each end thereof, a sheave pulley arranged for revolution in a suitable support each side of said connecting bar near each end thereof, a spacing strip secured to one tine of each pair and spacing the pairs apart upon opposite sides of the connecting bar, a lifting bar arranged parallel with said connecting bar of substantially equal length therewith, a latch pivotally mounted above said lifting bar lntermediate the ends of said lifting bar, a lifting rope ring arranged for detachable connection with said latch, a latch releasing device having a trip rope connected thereto, a rope extending from the inner side of each spacing strip around a sheave pulley and connecting with an end of said lifting bar at each end thereof, and a rope extending from the outer side of each spacing strip and connected to said lifting rope ring.

3. In a horse hay lifting and carrying fork, in combination, a tubular spacing bar, a headed bolt detachably secured in each end of said spacing bar with its head spaced from said end, two fork tines pivoted near one end of each, upon each bolt adjoining its head, a loop pivotally mounted upon each bolt between said tines and the ends of the spacing bar, and a sheave pulley pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the pivot bolt in each loop.

4:. In a horse hay lifting and carrying fork, two pairs of fork tines, spacing strips between said two pairs, ropes connecting the two spacing strips, a lifting bar, ropes connecting said spacing strips and lifting bar, a latch pivotally mounted upon said lifting bar, a spring arranged for normally holding the latch closed, ropes connecting the spacing strip upon one pair of fork tines with the spacing strip upon the other pair and latch, a lifting rope arranged for detachable connection with the aforesaid spacing strip ropes and a trip rope arranged for disconnecting the fork tine spacing strip ropes aforesaid from said latch.

AMBROSE DRUMM.

Witnesses .2

Mrs. K. A. Pioneer, C. M. ALBEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0."

arranged for connection with said 

